Southern Small Gathering

When it came to how to deal with Old Demon Han, Luo Hong had considered it carefully many times over the past three years.

First, he definitely could not steal the Sky Controlling Bottle. In fact, he could not do anything that would greatly affect Old Demon Han's timeline. Otherwise, the Time Dao Ancestor was not someone to be taken lightly—Venerable Han could turn into Li Feiyu at any moment.

Once he understood this most crucial point, Luo Hong's only choice was whether or not to befriend him.

There was nothing much to consider. If Luo Hong failed to build a good relationship with Old Demon Han and accidentally offended him, he would have to worry about being killed for treasure.

Although Luo Hong might not necessarily fear Old Demon Han by then, there was no reason not to avoid a danger that could clearly be avoided.

On the other hand, if Luo Hong built a good relationship with Old Demon Han, he could not only share in some of the Sky Controlling Bottle's benefits, but also gain a helper should he encounter powerful enemies in the future.

However, there was one thing to note when befriending Old Demon Han: he could not get too close and should avoid entering instances with him whenever possible.

Otherwise, just as Luo Hong retreated behind the others, Old Demon Han might quietly retreat behind him. Then should Luo Hong keep retreating or not?

That would be far too awkward.

"Given my current identity, the best choice is to become Old Demon Han's good teacher and helpful friend—a good Senior Brother who points out the way, and a good fellow Daoist with similar cultivation."

On the way to Southern Mountain by sword flight, Luo Hong reminded himself once again.

A few days later.

To Cultivators who knew the truth of the place, the mist around Southern Mountain was practically nonexistent. Wearing Yellow Maple Valley robes, Luo Hong walked through the plaza where stalls had been set up, enjoying the envious and resentful stares of numerous Rogue Cultivators around him.

Quite a few Rogue Cultivators with fierce features, ruthless dispositions, and confidence in their cultivation had thoughts of killing for treasure. But once they saw what was affixed to Luo Hong's shoulders, they all cursed under their breaths and gave up.

On each of Luo Hong's shoulders was a low-grade, mid-tier Water Spirit Protective Talisman. They were practically powerful repellents for malicious intent; any Rogue Cultivator who saw them would know better than to seek trouble.

However, Luo Hong would not tell them that a low-grade, mid-tier Diamond Talisman was also affixed to the back of his robe.

It was a surprise specially prepared for stubborn fools with some tricks up their sleeves.

Because cultivating the Spirit Flood Dragon Secret Markings had delayed him, Luo Hong had not arrived at Southern Mountain before the gathering began. There were now only a dozen or so days before it ended, and finding Old Demon Han within that time would be quite difficult.

Luo Hong only knew that the current Old Demon Han was an eighteen-year-old youth with ordinary features and dark skin, who clearly looked like a greenhorn yet stubbornly pretended otherwise.

Trying to find someone based on those traits was a waste of time.

Compared to that, Female Cultivators like Han Yunzhi, who came out to set up stalls every day and were young and beautiful, were far more recognizable.

Luo Hong was currently wandering among the various stalls, searching for Female Cultivators similar to Han Yunzhi.

"Wu Jiuzhi, if you want to get yourself killed, don't drag us husband and wife down with you. That's a Yellow Maple Valley disciple, and his cultivation is unfathomable!"

Due to the devouring effect of the Spirit Flood Dragon Secret Markings, not a trace of Luo Hong's aura leaked out. Hu Pinggu and the bearded man behind her only felt that Luo Hong was a bottomless black hole, and they did not dare let their divine sense approach too closely.

After shifting their gazes away from Luo Hong, they warily stared at a youth of sixteen or seventeen before them. From their posture, it seemed that if the youth made even the slightest move, the two would immediately act to stop him.

"Come on, I only thought the gourd at his waist looked nice and took a few extra glances. It's not like I wanted to steal it. But then again, disciples of those great cultivation sects are far removed from the secular world, so they should be the least familiar with my thieving skills. Even if I made a move, there's a high chance I wouldn't be discovered."

Wu Jiuzhi seemed completely oblivious to the tension of his two companions. With a cheeky grin, he withdrew his gaze from the Jade Dragon Gourd.

"Hmph, sure. But if you get discovered, don't blame us husband and wife for refusing to collect your corpse."

Hu Pinggu stopped paying attention to the youth and pulled the bearded Male Cultivator toward the inn where they were staying, clearly unwilling to get splattered with blood.

Wu Jiuzhi hesitated for a moment before following them. He was impulsive by nature, but not brainless.

Not long after returning to their lodging and chatting with Qing Wen and the others, Wu Jiuzhi saw an unfamiliar youth being brought inside.

The moment this person entered, Wu Jiuzhi sensed that he had a temperament completely opposite to his own—young but mature beyond his years. His hands immediately began to itch.

"My name is Han Li. Brother, please keep your hands in check. I don't have that sort of preference."

When Wu Jiuzhi was caught red-handed attempting theft by the newly arrived fellow Rogue Cultivator, Wu Pinggu, who had suffered at his hands before, immediately reveled in his misfortune. She laughed so hard that the scars on her face wrinkled together.

"Haha, Wu Jiuzhi, with your half-baked skills, you couldn't even fool Little Brother Han, yet you wanted to make a move against a Yellow Maple Valley disciple earlier. You truly don't know whether you're dead or alive!"

"You! So what if he's a Yellow Maple Valley disciple? None of his elders or fellow sect members are here. What can he possibly throw his weight around for?"

Wu Jiuzhi flew into a rage out of embarrassment and began shouting petulantly.

"Don't tell me you don't know that once this Southern Small Gathering ends, the once-every-ten-years Ascension Competition will be held here?"

Wu Pinggu was so astonished that she forgot to mock him.

"The Ascension Competition? What's that?" Wu Jiuzhi wore a completely blank, confused expression.

Han Li, seated to one side, calmly lowered his head to drink tea, concealing the flicker of curiosity in his eyes.

The leader, Qing Wen, immediately explained it to Wu Jiuzhi. Upon hearing that winning the Ascension Competition could earn one a Foundation Establishment Pill, Wu Jiuzhi sprang to his feet in excitement. But after Wu Pinggu told him about the competition's brutality, he could only sit back down indignantly.

"Those Cultivation Families really won't leave us Rogue Cultivators any way to survive! It's clearly a trial arranged by the Seven Great Sects specifically for us Rogue Cultivators, and those Foundation Establishment Pills clearly belong to us Rogue Cultivators, yet they have the nerve to come and snatch them!"

Wu Jiuzhi's words struck a chord with everyone present. Only no one noticed the appreciative look Qing Wen cast at him.

"It's not entirely hopeless. As long as one has a high-grade Magic Artifact and enough talismans, even a Rogue Cultivator has the strength to compete."

Huang Xiaotian, the fat cultivator who had remained silent until then, suddenly spoke. From his tone, it seemed that he himself met those conditions.

Most of those present were seasoned veterans who had spent years in the secular world. They immediately caught Huang Xiaotian's implication and all gave him surprised looks.

They were all clearly suffering together, so how had this fat man suddenly become so well-off?

"Yesterday, I found a hidden shop and bought some talismans at a low price. I'm going to give this Ascension Competition a try." Huang Xiaotian smugly patted his belly.

"Um... Brother Xiaotian, could those be Water Bullet Talismans and Water Shield Talismans sold at three for two Spirit Stones, with one free for every nine purchased?"

Suppressing his laughter, Qing Wen asked in a solemn tone.

"So what if they are? Is there something wrong with them?" Huang Xiaotian vaguely sensed that something was amiss.

"Yes, Daoist, what could possibly be wrong with talismans?"

Several Rogue Cultivators, including Wu Pinggu, changed expression slightly and exchanged uneasy glances.

Old Demon Han was a background character in this book. He appeared neither too often nor too rarely, so there was no need for everyone to worry about there being two protagonists.